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Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
At-a-Glance
• Peak Breeding Activity: March-August
• Incubation: 35-45 days
• Clutch Size: 1-4 eggs
• Young Fledge: 45-81 days after hatching
• Typical Foods: small mammals and birds
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Description
This large eagle is dark all over with touches of gold on the head and nape of the neck. The bill and claws are black and the legs are feathered all the way down to the toes.
Habitat and Habits
The golden eagle inhabits the mountainous and hilly areas of western North America and winters as far as the southern Great Plains.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
The nests, made of large masses of sticks and vegetation, are usually built on cliffs or high in trees. The same nest may be used year after year by a breeding pair. Both parents care for the nestlings until they become independent. Young eagles do not breed until they reach four to seven years of age. |
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